Photoessay: Mono street photography from Singapore

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t shoot that much street photography by either time or output; it just appears that way because a lot of the work I do can’t be published for some time (or at all) due to client embargoes; and by the time I can make it public, I’ve honestly just forgotten or realized that the shoot was so rushed that I didn’t get a chance to shoot any ‘making of’ b-roll. Hence the large quantity of street photography. By a similar token, I don’t believe in a conventional definition of street photography; I think of it as something on the documentary spectrum but towards the end where you don’t have a set objective or assignment, and just record what you see. In some ways, that makes it more difficult because you have to make or interpret your own story from a bunch of usually discordant pieces.

Conversations of curved space

Similarly, I’m usually equipped with a 28mm lens when I do this kind of work; usually in the form of the Ricoh GR. 45 (Hassy V/80mm) and 55 (D800E/Otus) combinations have also been tried recently. But only since Havana have I used anything much longer than that; in this case, the 70-200/4. Back story: I was in Singapore on assignment; a student requested an individual workshop, and I was using the equipment I had on hand rather than bringing down a separate set of gear. Why not? Perspective challenges are always good.

Inclined smoke I

Though a good quantity of this set was shot with the Ricoh GR, I’d say even more was done with the D800E/70-200. And though it’s initially challenging to use because you need a lot of stand off distance and a relatively open foreground to make the compositions work, I eventually landed up combining elements of the cinematic style – namely OOF foregrounds – with layering and more ‘traditional’ street photography. The result is this mixed set. I can’t say I’m more pleased with the output from one than the other; I actually think the wide images feel more structured, with the telephoto ones having a more organic feel or interesting perspective. Enjoy! MT

Visit the Teaching Store to up your photographic game – including workshop and Photoshop Workflow videos and the customized Email School of Photography; or go mobile with the Photography Compendium for iPad. You can also get your gear from B&H and Amazon. Prices are the same as normal, however a small portion of your purchase value is referred back to me. Thanks!

A wonderful series. Your creativity shows first in the images, but also in the titles that add to the images. And the next time someone whines about your “sterile” style, just tell them to stick it up their aperture.

Yes, summer rain is wonderful. Her expression, the composition and of course, the rain. Tone down the central hot spots and it would be even better! Quite a nice advert for Samsung S4 Active, a weatherproof phone.

Wonderful set…again, the process for me would be how you see the big picture and condense to the photo like on your how to see videos, etc. for instance, on the more legs than people was that a frame or did you find it later and crop? I assume it was a planned frame. Would be interesting if you do an article with a wide view and then a few others bringing us closer into what becomes final frame. Probably many different views of what would be final from the starting position from many of us.
While Shadows in the set us a more artistic expression of modern art to me, Summer Rain captures a natural moment of life I appreciate also beautifully done.

Legs wasn’t a planned frame as in the person wasn’t a model – I saw it, framed and took two shots with slightly different balance. There’s no ‘go a bit closer’ frame by frame – that just doesn’t really enter the process at all. As you point out, how I see/ compose is in the HTS videos – it doesn’t really suit an article because the world isn’t static, and still images don’t capture the dynamic elements of my environment. Plus if I was to make a video…well, I already have. 🙂

That’s what I thought…you saw it and took the shot…”planned” just meant “as is”. This shot probably continues with the discussions somewhat like we have had about another photos…execpt this one “is all about the legs” when it comes to the organic vs inorganic elements. Thanks Ming!! Always fantastic stuff…

I agree with you on the definition of Street Photography. I just call my photography at home ‘Urban’ to distance myself from the internet zealots arguing about how pure their street photography is, often in an attempt to belittle a novice.

My favourite from this set has to be Shadows, since that is very much the style I shoot at home.

Me, too! That’s probably my favorite shot of this series, and it’s a classic Ming image. I especially like how the picture moves from the large scale to the small from the placement of the buildings to the faceless man down to the detail of his cigarette. And it does that in a really effortless way. Some photographers talk about the gesture in a photo, and the moment the man was caught is just about perfect.